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For several decades, the mouse strains C3H/HeJ and C57BL/10ScNCr have been known to be hyporesponsive to endotoxin or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Recently, mutations in Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 have been shown to underlie this aberrant response to LPS. To further determine the relationship between TLR4 and responsiveness to LPS, we genotyped 18 strains of mice for TLR4 and evaluated the physiological and biological responses of these strains to inhaled LPS. Of the 18 strains tested, 6 were wild type for TLR4 and 12 had mutations in TLR4. Of those strains with TLR4 mutations, nine had mutations in highly conserved residues. Among the strains wild type for TLR4, the inflammatory response in the airway induced by inhalation of LPS showed a phenotype ranging from very sensitive (DBA/2) to hyporesponsive (C57BL/6). A broad spectrum of airway hyperreactivity after inhalation of LPS was also observed among strains wild type for TLR4. Although the TLR4 mutant strains C3H/HeJ and C57BL/10ScNCr were phenotypically distinct from the other strains with mutations in the TLR4 gene, the other strains with mutations for TLR4 demonstrated a broad distribution in their physiological and biological responses to inhaled LPS. The results of our study indicate that although certain TLR4 mutations can be linked to a change in the LPS response phenotype, additional genes are clearly involved in determining the physiological and biological responses to inhaled LPS in mammals.

The toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) has gained importance as a major mammalian receptor for lipoproteins derived from the cell wall of a variety of bacteria, such as Borrelia burgdorferi, Treponema pallidum, and Mycoplasma fermentans. We were interested in identifying mutations in the TLR2 gene that might prove to be associated with altered susceptibility to septic shock. We performed a mutation screen of the TLR2 gene using single-stranded conformational polymorphism in 110 normal, healthy study subjects and detected an Arg753Gln mutation in three individuals. No other missense mutations were detected in the TLR2 open reading frame. Functional studies demonstrate that the Arg753Gln polymorphism, in comparison to the wild-type TLR2 gene, is significantly less responsive to bacterial peptides derived from B. burgdorferi and T. pallidum. In a septic shock population, the Arg753Gln TLR2 polymorphism occurred in 2 out of 91 septic patients. More importantly, both of the subjects with the TLR2 Arg753Gln polymorphism had staphylococcal infections. These findings suggest that a mutation in the TLR2 gene may predispose individuals to life-threatening bacterial infections.

There is much variability between individuals in the response to inhaled toxins, but it is not known why certain people develop disease when challenged with environmental agents and others remain healthy. To address this, we investigated whether TLR4 (encoding the toll-like receptor-4), which has been shown to affect lipopolysaccharide (LPS) responsiveness in mice, underlies the variability in airway responsiveness to inhaled LPS in humans. Here we show that common, co-segregating missense mutations (Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile) affecting the extracellular domain of the TLR4 receptor are associated with a blunted response to inhaled LPS in humans. Transfection of THP-1 cells demonstrates that the Asp299Gly mutation (but not the Thr399Ile mutation) interrupts TLR4-mediated LPS signalling. Moreover, the wild-type allele of TLR4 rescues the LPS hyporesponsive phenotype in either primary airway epithelial cells or alveolar macrophages obtained from individuals with the TLR4 mutations. Our findings provide the first genetic evidence that common mutations in TLR4 are associated with differences in LPS responsiveness in humans, and demonstrate that gene-sequence changes can alter the ability of the host to respond to environmental stress.

The GLC1A gene (which encodes the protein myocilin) has been associated with the development of primary open angle glaucoma. Bacterial artificial chromosomes containing the human GLC1A gene and its mouse ortholog were subcloned and sequenced to reveal the genomic structure of the genes. Comparison of the coding sequences of the human and mouse GLC1A genes revealed a high degree of amino acid homology (82%) and the presence of several conserved motifs in the predicted GLC1A proteins. The expression of GLC1A was examined by Northern blot analysis of RNA from adult human tissues. GLC1A expression was observed in 17 of 23 tissues tested, suggesting a wider range of expression than was recognized previously. The comparison of the human and mouse GLC1A genes suggests that the mouse may be a useful model organism in studying the molecular pathophysiology of glaucoma.

A quantitative method for measuring 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) was developed utilizing a luciferase reporter gene under the control of the highly inducible 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 24-hydroxylase promoter in a stably transfected cell line. Transient transfections with constructs containing the 24-hydroxylase gene promoter 5' to a luciferase reporter were first performed in cell lines with high levels of vitamin D receptor, i.e., the rat osteosarcoma (ROS 17/2.8) and human breast cancer (T-47D) cell lines. ROS 17/2.8 cells, stably transfected with the plasmid, gave a 60-fold stimulation with 10(-10) M 1,25-(OH)2D3. A standard curve was constructed showing a large range of response to 1,25-(OH)2D3 (1 pg to 1 ng). The assay was adapted to microtiter plates, which permits a large number of samples to be assayed simultaneously. Other metabolites of vitamin D and analogs such as 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and 1 alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 have negligible effects on the detection of 1,25-(OH)2D3, thus eliminating the need for purification of sample. The sensitivity of the method permitted the use of 100 microliters of serum with excellent results. Comparison of this method with a commercially available assay demonstrates that it gives higher sensitivity, simpler manipulations, and comparable results.

Achromatopsia is an autosomal recessive disease of the retina, characterized clinically by an inability to distinguish colors, impaired visual acuity, nystagmus and photophobia. A genome-wide search for linkage was performed using an inbred Jewish kindred from Iran. To facilitate the genome-wide search, we utilized a DNA pooling strategy which takes advantage of the likelihood that the disease in this inbred kindred is inherited by all affected individuals from a common founder. Equal molar amounts of DNA from all affected individuals were pooled and used as the PCR template for short tandem repeat polymorphic markers (STRPs). Pooled DNA from unaffected members of the kindred was used as a control. A reduction in the number of alleles in the affected versus control pool was observed at several loci. Upon genotyping of individual family members, significant linkage was established between the disease phenotype and markers localized on chromosome 2. The highest LOD score observed was 5.4 (theta = 0). When four additional small unrelated families were genotyped, the combined peak LOD score was 8.2. Analysis of recombinant chromosomes revealed that the disease gene lies within a 30 cM interval which spans the centromere. Additional fine-mapping studies identified a region of homozygosity in all affected individuals, narrowing the region to 14 cM. A candidate gene for achromatopsia was excluded from this disease interval by radiation hybrid mapping. Linkage of achromatopsia to chromosome 2 is an essential first step in the identification of the disease-causing gene.

Human uteroglobin (hUG) or Clara cell 10-kD protein (cc10 kDa) is a steroid-dependent, immunomodulatory, cytokine-like protein. It is secreted by mucosal epithelial cells of all vertebrates studied. The cDNA encoding hUG and the 5' promoter region of the gene have been characterized previously. Here, we report that the structure of the entire hUG gene is virtually identical to those of rabbit, rat, and mouse. It is localized on human chromosome 11q12.3-13.1, a region in which several important candidate disease genes have been mapped by linkage analyses. Our data indicate that candidate genes for atopic (allergic) asthma and Best's vitelliform macular dystrophy are in closest proximity to the hUG gene. To determine whether hUG gene mutation may be involved in the pathogenesis of these diseases, we studied two isolated groups of patients, each afflicted with either atopy or Best's disease, respectively. We detected a single base-pair change in the hUG gene in Best's disease patients and normal controls but no such change was detected in atopy patients. This alteration in hUG gene-sequence in Best disease family appears to be a polymorphism. Although the results of our investigation did not uncover mutations in hUG gene that could be causally related to the pathogenesis of either of these diseases, its conservation throughout vertebrate phyla implies that this gene is of physiological importance. Moreover, the close proximity of this gene to several candidate disease genes makes it an important chromosomal marker in cloning and characterization of those genes.

The effects of two vitamin D analogs, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-2 and 24-epi-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-2, were examined on osteocalcin gene expression in the rat osteosarcoma cell line ROS 17/28. Our results indicate that these analogs are more transcriptionally active than 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3, particularly the 24-epimer. Assessment of reporter gene chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) activity, using the vitamin D responsive element (VDRE) derived from the human osteocalcin gene promoter. revealed that both analogs stimulated CAT activity 5- to 10-fold. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D-2 was slightly more active than 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3, while the 24-epimer was twice as effective. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D-3 also stimulated osteocalcin mRNA accumulation by 2-fold over vehicle-treated cells, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-2 by 2.5-fold, and 24-epi-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-2 by 4-fold. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays using the osteocalcin vitamin D responsive element revealed no increase in DNA binding with either analog when compared to 1,25-(OH)2D3. Examination of CAT activity using the rat 24-hydroxylase VDRE indicated no significant difference in transcription with these compounds, suggesting that the vitamin D-2 analogs preferentially activate osteocalcin gene expression.

A regulatory mechanism for the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in rat osteosarcoma cells (ROS 17/2.8) is stabilization of the receptor through binding of its ligand, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25-(OH)2D3]. Increased transcription of the gene encoding VDR does not occur upon treatment of these osteoblast-like cells with 1,25-(OH)2D3. When 10 nM 1,25-(OH)2D3 was administered to confluent cultures of ROS 17/2.8 cells, no change in receptor mRNA was detected, as measured by a ribonuclease protection assay. VDR abundance was measured using an immunoradiometric assay at varying time points within a 24-h period after 1,25-(OH)2D3 treatment. Receptor protein levels increased rapidly and continued to rise over 24 h. By 2 h, the level of receptor increased 2.5-fold, achieving a maximum level of 8-fold above the baseline at 18 h. The half-life of the receptor protein is 2 h in the absence of hormone, as determined by blockage of translation in cycloheximide-treated cells. In the presence of hormone, however, receptor levels were unchanged for at least 6 h. The administration of 1,25-(OH)2D3 stabilizes the receptor, thereby resulting in its accumulation in ROS 17/2.8 cells.

Acetonitrile extracts of cigarette tar inhibit state 3 and state 4 respiration of intact mitochondria. Exposure of respiring submitochondrial particles to acetonitrile extracts of cigarette tar results in a dose-dependent inhibition of oxygen consumption and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) oxidation. This inhibition was not due to a solvent effect since acetonitrile alone did not alter oxygen consumption or NADH oxidation. Intact mitochondria are less sensitive to extracts of tar than submitochondrial particles. The NADH-ubiquinone (Q) reductase complex is more sensitive to inhibition by tar extract than the succinate-Q reductase and cytochrome complexes. Nicotine or catechol did not inhibit respiration of intact mitochondria. Treatment of submitochondrial particles with cigarette tar results in the formation of hydroxyl radicals, detected by electron spin resonance (ESR) spin trapping. The ESR signal attributable to the hydroxyl radical spin adduct requires the presence of NADH and is completely abolished by catalase and to a lesser extent superoxide dismutase (SOD). Catalase and SOD did not protect the mitochondrial respiratory chain from inhibition by tar extract, indicating that the radicals detected by ESR spin trapping are not responsible for the inhibition of the electron transport. We propose that tar causes at least two effects: (1) Tar components interact with the electron transport chain and inhibit electron flow, and (2) tar components interact with the electron transport chain, ultimately to form hydroxyl radicals.